The trial against Donald Trump in New York is progressing at lightning speed. Jury selection could be completed this week.
New York – The historic trial against an ex-President of the USA is entering its third day. The selection of a total of twelve jurors (including six alternates) continues in front of Donald Trump, who is present. On the two days of negotiations so far, an agreement has already been reached on seven jury members.
If things continue at this rate, the actual criminal trial against Donald Trump could begin as early as Monday (April 22nd). Under the chairmanship of Judge Juan Merchan, Trump's alleged hush money payments to porn actress Stormy Daniels and former Playmate Karen McDougal would then be heard.
Judge warns Donald Trump
Judge Merchan had already warned Donald Trump several times during the ongoing trial not to try to influence the jury. “I will not allow any jurors to be intimidated in this courtroom,” said Merchan in the direction of the accused ex-president. Trump is also prohibited from insulting the judge or prosecutor Alvin Bragg. If he does not comply with this “gag order”, Trump will face either fines or even imprisonment lasting up to 30 days.
Trump speaks out about court in New York
But so far, Trump does not appear to be intimidated by this prospect. The 77-year-old billionaire heir shared a quote from Jesse Watters on Truth Social on Wednesday. The host of the pro-Trump TV channel
Fox News
said on his show “The Five”: “They’re just catching undercover liberal activists lying to the judge to get on the Trump jury.”
A total of four days of negotiations per week are scheduled for the trial. Donald Trump will have to be present in court in New York on each of these days. This in turn leaves the Republican candidate for the upcoming US election in 2024 hardly any time for the election campaign against incumbent President Joe Biden.
Numerous witnesses expected in the trial against Donald Trump
Donald Trump is accused in the case of forging business documents in order to cover up a hush money payment of $130,000 (122,000 euros at today's rate) to Daniels before the 2016 presidential election. Trump himself has repeatedly protested his innocence and denied both the hush money payments and the affairs themselves. In contrast, there are statements from Stormy Daniels, Karen McDougal and Trump's former lawyer, Michael Cohen.
All three are expected to take the witness stand in New York in the coming weeks. Daniels' statement for Trump is likely to be particularly piquant. She claims to have had a brief affair with the then real estate agent while his wife Melania Trump was pregnant with their son Barron Trump.
The protagonists in the trial against Trump
Michael Cohen
: Donald Trump's former lawyer is now considered one of the ex-president's most bitter opponents. In 2018, Cohen was sentenced to three years in prison for, among other things, tax evasion and false statements in connection with the hush money payments now being negotiated in New York.
Stormy Daniels
: The erotic film actress got the ball rolling with her statements about an affair with Donald Trump.
Juan Merchan
: The judge in the case against Donald Trump has served in various courts in New York since 2006.
Alvin Bragg
: The prosecutor already celebrated a legal success in 2018 when he won a case against the Donald J. Trump Foundation over misused campaign donations. He is a member of the Democrats.
In the end, the jury will have to decide whether Donald Trump is guilty or innocent. The twelve jurors must make this decision unanimously. With just a single dissenting vote, the entire trial against Trump would be declared a failure and end without a verdict.
Test your knowledge of US politics here
If Donald Trump is actually convicted, he will face either imprisonment or another fine. In recent months, the ex-president has already been sentenced to fines of more than $500 million in other trials. Trump is also criminally charged in three other cases.
(with agencies)